ABSTRACT
Breastfeeding mothers and their babies may be affected by a variety of conditions which may or may not be related to their feeding method. In the past these may have led to suggestions to stop breastfeeding unnecessarily – often in order to prescribe medication for the mother, e.g. post-natal depression. Conditions specifically related to breastfeeding include engorgement, sore nipples, thrush, mastitis and Raynaud's phenomenon. Milk engorgement is almost always iatrogenic and rarely occurs when babies are allowed to feed on demand day and night. Vasospasm is frequently due to poor positioning and attachment with the nipple compressed between the baby's tongue or even gums and roof of the mouth, which cuts off the blood supply temporarily – a shallow latch. Colic has been defined as 'spasmodic contraction of smooth muscle causing pain and discomfort'. Lactose intolerance is often blamed as being a contributory factor for colic, resulting in cessation of breastfeeding and substitution of lactose-free formula.
